Adjustable latch



Jan. 23, 1923;

D. A. SCHENDEL.

ADJUSTABLE LATCH. man SEPT, 30, 1921.

- 1N VEN TOR,

ATTORNEY Patented lain. 2, llhfidt semesters trees.

.Pipplicatidn rues September a), 1921. serial no. aria.

to provide a spring latch the locking tongue of which may be adjusted relative to the latch-box or casing at will.

lit frequently, or rather usually. happens with the unseasoned lumber now generally used in the construction of more or less cheap houses or articles of furniture, that after the doors, etc, have been installed for some time they will shrink considerably in dry weather, and will again swell when the air is damp. The usual form of spring latch employed is of course mounted on the doors when. the latter are first installed and are placed so that the latch tongue properly engages the socket at that time. When the door shrinks however the latch box sometimes is drawn so fa r from the socket memher that the tongue will no longer engage the latter.

The only remedy with the ordinary form of latch now used is to remove and relocate either the socket or latch boa: which apart from being a slow job destroys the finished appearance of the door, since the surface of the latch is not painted or varnished, and this shows up when the latch box is moved. Further, the amount of movement of the latch box or socket necessary to relocate the same properly is often not sufficient to allow of the drilling of new screw holes without first plugging the old ones, which adds to the inconvenience of making such a change.

With my improved latch, the latch box and socket are never disturbed, any neces sary adjustment to make the tongue fit the socket being done by moving the tongue it self, irrespective of the distance the latch box may be spaced "from the socket, within reasonable limits. and not interfering with he action of the latch in an way.

The necessary adjustment oes notrrequire and yet one which will be esteem-wr ease-- tive for the 'nrrposes which it is esi'gned. r m 1' v i lhese oh; I accomphsh by means of such structure and relative arrangement of 1 rt's as wi l fully appear "by a perusal the following specification and claim. i

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a view of the complete latch assembly showing the same installed.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same. i

3 is. an enlarged fragmentary section showing the adjustment mechanism of the latch.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the latch box or casing adapted to be secured to a door 2 by screws 3 or otherwise.

Idlidably mounted in the box 1 longitudinally thereof is a rod or shaft t on one end of which is a latch or tongue 5 adapted to seat in a socket member 6 mounted in alinenient with the box 1. on a frame or another door 7.

Slidably mounted on the rod 4.- is a sleeve 8 provided with a boss 9 which projects through a slot 10 in the casino 1 and which extends to the rod 4, the length of the slot limiting the amount of travel of the rod and sleeve.

Threaded into the boss and sleeve and bearing against the rod 4 is a set screw 11 preferably of the headless type, on the outer end of which is threaded a lock nut 12 which bears against the boss and is formed as a knob or handle, by means of which the latch is manipulated.

For the sake of neatness if nothing else, the set screw 11 lies flush with the member 12.

A spring 13 about the rod 4: and bearing against the sleeve 8 and a partition 1 in the casing 1 acts to normally hold the tongue 5 outwardly of the casing or in its socket.

In operation, it with the shrinking of the members 2 and 7 the box and socket are separated so that the tongue as normally positioned and set does not properly engage the socket, the set screw 11 is loosened and the rod and tongue drawn out the necessary amount, the latter having a length sufficient for it to have ample bearing in the box without the liability of its turning for any reasonable amount of adjustment.

In changing the setting of the tongue, it will be evident that neither the position of the sleeve nor the pressure of the spring thereon is disturbed in any way, and when the screw 11 is again set up, the latch may be manipulated as before.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A latch including a latch box, a rod slidably mounted in the box and having a latch tongue on one end projecting from the box, a sleeve adjustably mounted on the rod, a boss formed with the sleeve and projecting through a slot of predetermined length in the box, a set screw threaded through the boss and sleeve and bearing against the rod, and a locknut threaded on the outer end of the set screw and bearing against the boss, the locknut being formed as a handle for manipulating the latch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DAVID A. SCHENDEL. 

